Crusiing the Inside Passage

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Catching up - first opportunity.
We have been crusiing some time.

17th June - Vancouver

Orientation on bus - round Stanley Park, Graneville Island - LJ bought some silk stuff. Then back to hotel for lunch. Afternoon free, guess what Lin went shopping along Robson street, the place to be for all the designer shops. In the evening we did a see level to sea level trip with a dinner thrown in. That was up the observation Tower (the lookout) looking over the harbour and cruise port (where we sailed from) then a walk through the port area for a meal looking over the harbour. Nice way to spend the eveing.

18th June - Vancouver

Free Day - Rather than go on an organised trip we decided to walk back over to Stanley Park on the harbor side, we walked via the marina & Yacht club and decided to go to th Vancouver aquarium. The Beluga whales had a new arrival born on the 14th June (the only problem, the school holidays were just starting) The walk took us around the park to English Bay wher we found a great restaurant for lunch (The Boathouse) great for fresh fish. After lunch walk back to the hotel, the total walk was about 7 miles!!!. We decided to dine in the hotel restaurant rather than walk to a restaurant!!

19th June - Transfer to Victoria (Vancouver Island)

We transferred to Victoria today via Horse Shoe Bay to Nanaimao. Ferry trip was about 1hr 35 mins. We stopped for lunch in a place called Chemainus at the Harbourside cafe (interesting because there was not a harhour within at least 1000 yards/metres!!). It seems that the transfers are getting longer as we finally arrived at our hotel at 5.15pm after what the group felt like was killing time. This has been our poorest hotel as it was being refurbished. There have been quite a few negative comments. Anyway Victoria is a busy harbour city, the state capital of Vancouver. From our hotel room you can see the float plnes taking off and landing. We walked into the city for something to eat and ended up at a place called Chandlers , a good seafood place, simple but good & fresh. Walked back via the Government building which is lit up like Blackpool tower (We both thought it good have been done more tastefully). Anyway to bed because it was an early visit to the Butchart Gardens in the morning

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